Random Thoughts

That's because I sucesfully defended my PhD disseration on Monday. I'm on the road now, but I'll post some updates once I get to Texas.

Talk about going overboard!

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Show me where this says you can't sing The Devil Went Down to Georgia or even Amazing Grace for that matter!

'

Devil' Cast Out of Pr. William
Hylton High Band Pulls Song Over Resident's Letter

By Ian Shapira
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 16, 2005; Page C01

After the devil went down to Georgia, it seems, he got censored in Prince William County.

In preparation for a guest appearance at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, the marching band at C.D. Hylton High School had a logical and seemingly innocuous idea: play a Georgia-themed song. They decided on "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," by the Charlie Daniels Band.

But early this month, a local newspaper, the Potomac News, published a letter by a Woodbridge resident who, after having seen the C.D. Hylton Bulldawg Marching Band perform the country-western hit at a football game, wondered how a song about the devil could be played at school events, because of the separation of church and state.

Fearing bad public reaction, Hylton's longtime band director, Dennis Brown, pulled the song from the playlist. "I was just being protective of my students. I didn't want any negative publicity for C.D. Hylton High School," he said.

But Brown's strategy backfired. The decision has created a furor, and even Charlie Daniels has weighed in.

Awesome!

In other news, I finished writing my Ph.D. thesis, just need to prepare my defense now :-)